Purdue holds off Canada for 94-86 exhibition victory in Carmel

The Boilermakes overcame 17 turnovers and some defensive lapses to win their first tine-up for the World University Games.
Nathan Baird/Journal & Courier

Team USA's Isaac Haas (44) is fouled by Team Canada's Erik Nissen (11) in the first half during the World University Games basketball game at Carmel High School Friday evening, August 11, 2017.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

CARMEL, Ind. — Purdue's players will undoubtedly study its shortcomings in Friday's exhibition against Canada at a packed Carmel High School.

Yet following a 94-86 victory — the Boilermakers' first as Team USA in preparation for the World University Games — they also took solace in their confident closing performance. Matt Painter saw a team that played its best in the crucial final minutes.

"That was one of those deals where it comes down to will," senior center Isaac Haas said.

"You're down in the last three minutes of a game, you have to get stops. You have to do the right things and make sure your team gets good looks at the basket and make them take tough shots. That's what we did collectively as a team."

If Purdue repairs the rest of its effort, that closing mentality could prove pivotal when the tournament begins in Chinese Taipei next week.

The Boilermakers at times surged to double-digit leads, only to sloppily give them back. They struggled defensively for much of the first half, then stepped up in the final minutes when necessary. They missed 13 of their last 16 from 3-point range but rode a big night from their big man.

The same teams play again Saturday at Lafayette Jeff at 4 p.m.

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The Boilermakers stopped in Carmel for an exhibition before heading overseas to represent the U.S. in the World University Games.
Matt Kryger / IndyStar

Four takeaways from Friday’s exhibition:

For the defense: Purdue led by 12 in the second quarter and seemed on the verge of opening up a significant lead. However, the Boilermakers struggled to contain Canada's dribble, too easily getting to the basket while rallying to take a 43-42 halftime lead.

Conor Morgan, a 6-9 shooter with big-time range, finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Much of that production came while leading the second-quarter charge.

"In the international game, shooting is talked about a lot, but guys are good decision-makers," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "Guys are good at putting the ball on the floor when you take that away from them.

"In the first half, the ball was getting in the paint way too easy. I thought we were better in the second half, but I don't think we were good. We've really got to improve on that."

"That's winning time — that four or five minutes where we had to pick it up," Mathias said. "The game was still in the balance there."

Man in the middle: Purdue needs Haas to not only play more minutes, but more efficient minutes, both in Taiwan and the 2017-18 season. The 7-2 senior center thrived in 12 first-half minutes against a Canada roster with no player taller than 6-10.

Haas collected 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks with no turnovers. Purdue’s best offensive flow came when it got him the ball and let him establish dominance in the paint.

Haas ran into foul trouble in the second half, but returned in the clutch. He blocked his third shot of the night shortly before forcing a turnover by Morgan with just over two minutes to play. Haas missed two free throws late in the third quarter, but with 1:58 left he hit two big ones to push the lead to 83-79.

On the next trip down, Mathias passed up a jumper to dish to Haas for an emphatic dunk. It stood up as the clincher.

Haas finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out.

Fresh faces: Purdue fans’ first impression of freshman guard Nojel Eastern was a positive one. He scored on consecutive possessions after entering the game in the first quarter, and his big body will factor in team rebounding and hidden elements such as ball screens.

However, he picked up his third foul in the second quarter. Carsen Edwards played extra minutes at the point in relief of P.J. Thompson.

When Vincent Edwards sat for a crucial stretch of the second half with four fouls, Aaron Wheeler responded. The freshman forward finished a lob dunk from Carsen Edwards for perhaps the prettiest play of the night. It answered a Morgan 3 and gave the Boilermakers a nine-point lead with under eight minutes to play.

Team USA's Jacquil Taylor (23) pulls in rebound over Team Canada's Kevin Bercy (15) in the first half during the World University Games basketball game at Carmel High School Friday evening, August 11, 2017.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

Frontcourt support: Jacquil Taylor provided solid defensive value in relief of Haas. He blocked four shots and grabbed three rebounds in 13 minutes. Haas may be productive enough offensively for the both of them on many nights, so Taylor can help a lot by proving his reliability.

Eden Ewing didn’t check in until under three minutes to play in the first half. When he did so, it came as the center in a small lineup. That could come up a lot at the World University Games depending on foul trouble for Haas and Taylor.

Grady Eifert somewhat surprisingly subbed in prior to Ewing in the first half and contributed a couple of baskets. The walk-on was also first off the bench early in the third quarter, when Vincent Edwards committed his third foul.

Painter said Eifert earned that trust based on his play in practice, and called him "a spark."